New members join UH Hilo's Mauna Kea management entities

HILO, Hawaii - University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Dr. Rose Tseng recently announced the appointments of new members to the Mauna Kea Management Board (MKMB) and the Kahu Ku Mauna Council.

"One of the most important contributions made by the Master Plan is its commitment to include community input into the decision-making process, which it does primarily via the MKMB and Kahu Ku Mauna Council, both of which are comprised of individuals from the community," Tseng stated. "We are indeed fortunate that something as important as the management of Mauna Kea is being overseen by people that hold broad knowledge and command respect in the community."

At its July meeting, the UH Board of Regents approved the appointments of Herring Kalua and Anthony Schinckel to the MKMB, effective August 1.

Kalua was born and raised in Keaukaha. A graduate of Hilo High School and UH Hilo, he works for the State Department of Transportation as supervisor for Construction and Maintenance on the Big Island. Kalua is a former Hawaiian Homes commissioner, is active in numerous local educational and advisory committees, and served on the Mauna Kea Advisory Committee that developed the UH 2000 Mauna Kea Master Plan.

Schinckel is director of operations of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Submillimeter Array (SMA). Since 1998, he has overseen all aspects of the SMA operation. Schinckel‘s experience with Mauna Kea spans 18 years, when he first arrived in Hawaiʻi to work for the CalTech Submillimeter Observatory as a telescope engineer. During his tenure here, he has distinguished himself as an outstanding scientist, and a strong advocate of cooperation, compromise and respect between science, Hawaiian cultural interests and the environment.

Additionally, at its July meeting, the MKMB approved the appointments of three new members to the Kahu Ku Mauna Council.

"The MKMB and Kahu Ku Mauna provide a vital link between the community and the University regarding meaningful, proper, and sensitive stewardship and oversight of Mauna Kea," said Office of Mauna Kea Management Director Bill Stormont.

Sean P. Naleimaile recently graduated with a bachelor‘s degree in anthropology from UH Hilo and is currently pursuing a master‘s in archaeology from UH Manoa. Naleimaile also works at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi as a research assistant in the Hawaiian Heritage component of the Center.

Chad Kalepa Baybayan is widely known as one of the few individuals who is capable of navigating long, open ocean voyages using only traditional Polynesian

methods. He is a graduate of UH Hilo‘s Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikolani College of Hawaiian Language, and holds a masters degree from Heritage College. He also serves as project director for ʻAha Punana Leo‘s Hokualakaʻi Voyaging Program.

Leilehua Omphroy is a respected kupuna who has dedicated the past 10 years of her life to teaching young people about the significance of the Hawaiian culture and the importance of preserving the wahi pana (legendary) of these islands. Omphroy holds a masters degree in education from Cal State University. She has shared her expertise with the State Department of Education, Alu Like, Lyman House Museum, World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education, Kamehameha Schools, and the State Kupuna Hawaiian Studies programs, amongst others.

"We welcome each of the new appointees, and express our heartfelt appreciation for their willingness to contribute a community voice to help guide stewardship efforts on Mauna Kea," Stormont said. "Each brings expertise, and passion, that will serve the mountain well."